ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book presents extensive details of empirical findings, sociological analysis and policy recommendations. It describes the design and methodology of studies about National Survey and Intensive Two-Institution Study. The book provides a report of what the different patterns of expressed standards and self-reported behavior are with respect to the key issues of informed consent and the risk-benefit ratio. It presents the data, which shows that a majority of biomedical researchers using human subjects are very much aware of the importance of informed voluntary consent, and that a majority express unwillingness to take undue risk when confronted with hypothetical research proposals. The book explains some general questions about the social responsibilities of a powerful profession and makes some specific policy recommendations for reform in this area.
